CURRENT AFFAIRS 18-09-2024

LEGAL NEWS

Nature of J&K Assembly

• With the first phase of polling for the Jammu & Kashmir Assembly on the horizon, the Assembly will operate under a revised framework established by the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019, which has altered its constitutional structure AND polling for the J&K Assembly significantly marks the first assembly election since 2019’s (Article 370 abrogation), resulting in a fundamentally changed Assembly.

• The Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 established Jammu & Kashmir as a Union Territory with a legislative assembly, while Ladakh was created as a UT without a legislature.

• The special status granted under Article 370 was removed, extending the Indian Constitution and laws to Jammu and Kashmir in their entirety.

• The Assembly has the authority to legislate on State List matters but cannot address issues related to "Public Order" and "Police," which fall under the Lieutenant Governor’s control.

• Presidential Administration: Article 239 outlines that Union Territories are administered by the President through appointed administrators as necessary.

• Governance Model: Section 13 of the Act applies Article 239A, which governs Puducherry's administration, to the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.

• Concurrent List Powers: The Assembly can also legislate on matters from the Concurrent List as applicable to Union Territories.

• Section 36 specifies that any financial bill or amendment must be introduced in the Assembly with the Lieutenant Governor's prior recommendation, limiting its fiscal authority.

• The Lieutenant Governor retains discretion over matters that exceed the Assembly's jurisdiction or are dictated by law.

• With the first phase of polling approaching, this new legislative structure marks a significant change in governance for Jammu & Kashmir.

Supreme Court Issues 15-Day Stay on Demolitions, Revisiting 2022 Decision

• The Supreme Court ruled that no property demolition should occur without its explicit permission, particularly for those accused of crimes. This stay is effective for 15 days.

• Nearly two-and-a-half years ago, the Court stated it could not impose a blanket stay on demolitions across the country, emphasizing the need for case-by-case assessments.

• The bench, led by Justice Nageswara Rao, expressed skepticism about general apprehensions regarding potential demolitions, indicating a need for concrete evidence before intervention.

• The ruling arises from ongoing concerns about demolitions linked to criminal accusations, notably in cases like the Jahangirpuri demolitions, which drew significant public attention.

• In previous proceedings, the Court had ordered a status quo on specific demolitions but refrained from issuing a broader stay, illustrating a cautious approach to legal remedies.

• Legal Principles: The Court's decision reflects principles of natural justice, ensuring that individuals are not punished or subjected to loss of property based solely on accusations without due process.

• This directive serves to protect the property rights of individuals accused of crimes, emphasizing that accusations alone do not warrant punitive actions such as demolition.

• The stay may lead to a reassessment of current policies surrounding property demolitions, potentially influencing legal frameworks related to due process and property rights in similar cases.

APPOINTMENTS

Manoj Kumar Verma appointed new Kolkata Police Commissioner

• The West Bengal government, led by Mamata Banerjee, appointed Manoj Kumar Verma as the new commissioner of Kolkata Police on Tuesday.

• Verma is a 1998 batch IPS officer who previously served as Additional Director General (ADG) for Law and Order.

• He replaces Vineet Kumar Goyal, who has been transferred to the role of ADG for the Special Task Force.

• The decision to replace Goyal followed a late-night meeting between Chief Minister Banerjee and protesting doctors regarding a serious incident in the medical community.

• Goyal faced criticism for his management of the investigation into the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College Hospital on August 9.

• Other Police Changes: The reshuffle also includes Abhishek Gupta, Deputy Commissioner of North Division, who has been replaced by Dipak Sarkar.

• Health Sector Leadership Changes: The government made changes in medical leadership, appointing Dr. Swapan Soren as the new in-charge Director of Health Services and Dr. Suparna Dutta as an Officer on Special Duty for Medical Education.

• New Roles for Medical Officials: Dr. Kaustav Nayak will now head the Institute of Health and Family Welfare, while Dr. Debasish Halder will serve as Officer on Special Duty (Public Health) at Swasthya Bhawan.

Samir Kumar appointed as Amazon India's new country manager.

• Samir Kumar has been appointed as Amazon India's new country manager, effective October 1.

• He replaces Manish Tiwary, who stepped down from his role in August.

• In addition to managing India, Kumar will continue leading Amazon’s consumer businesses in the Middle East, South Africa, and Turkey.

• Samir Kumar joined Amazon in 1999 and has been instrumental in the company's growth.

• He played a key role in establishing Amazon's operations in India in 2013.

NATIONAL NEWS

Indian Government approved mission to Venus after Moon and Mars.

• The Indian government has approved the Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM) as part of its planetary exploration agenda.

• Set for launch in March 2028, this mission aims to study Venus' surface, subsurface, and atmospheric conditions.

• The mission has a budget of Rs 1236 crore, with Rs 824 crore allocated for spacecraft development.

• Venus, the nearest planet to Earth, offers insights into atmospheric evolution under similar initial conditions.

• ISRO will lead the development and launch of the Venus Orbiter Mission.

• This mission marks a significant milestone in India's space exploration following previous missions to the Moon and Mars.

• The VOM will also investigate the influence of solar activity on Venus' atmosphere.

• The project represents a crucial step in expanding India’s capabilities in planetary science and exploration.

AWARDS

Aishwarya Rai wins Best Actress at SIIMA 2024.

• The South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) 2024 took place in Dubai, celebrating the achievements of the South Indian film industry.

• Aishwarya Rai Bachchan received the Best Actress in a Leading Role (Critics) award for her dual performance in Ponniyin Selvan: Part 2.

• The award was presented to Aishwarya by director Kabir Khan.

• She portrayed two characters, Nandini and Mandakini Devi, in the film.

• SIIMA was launched in 2012 by Vishnu Vardhan Induri and Brinda Prasad Adusimilli.

• Nominees for the awards are chosen by a jury of seasoned professionals and voted on by the public.

• The ceremony recognizes both artistic and technical achievements within the industry.

'Shogun' dominates Emmy Awards 2024, Hiroyuki Sanada wins Best Actor Award

• Hiroyuki Sanada won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role in Shogun at the 76th Emmy Awards.

• Anna Sawai also received recognition at the Emmys, winning Best Actress for her performance in Shogun.

• Jeremy Allen White took home the award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series.

• Sanada's win highlights the success of the series Shogun at this year's awards.

• The Emmy Awards showcased outstanding performances across various categories, celebrating talent in both drama and comedy.

• Sanada's achievement marks a significant milestone in his acting career.

• The 76th Emmy Awards recognized the contributions of actors in both drama and comedy genres.

SUMMIT AND CONFERENCE

India hosted high-level international meetings on anti-doping in sports.

• India hosted the COP-9 Bureau's second meeting and the Fund Approval Committee's third meeting on September 17-18, 2024, in New Delhi.

• The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports organized these high-level events to address anti-doping in sports.

• Delegates from various countries, including Azerbaijan, France, Italy, and Saudi Arabia, attended the meetings.

• Senior officials from the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport participated in discussions conducted in a hybrid format.

• India, as Vice President of the COP-9 Bureau, played a leading role in coordinating the events.

• The gatherings provided a vital platform for international dialogue on doping prevention and fair sporting practices.

• Key decision-makers and dignitaries from around the world engaged in discussions on global cooperation to maintain sports integrity.

• The meetings emphasized the importance of collaboration among countries and international organizations in combating doping.

MISCELLANEOUS

Earth will get a temporary mini-moon, which will be named 2024 PT5.

• Earth is set to receive a temporary mini-moon, designated 2024 PT5, which will enter an eccentric orbit.

• This asteroid, measuring 33 feet in length, was first discovered on August 7 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System.

• Unlike a traditional mini-moon, 2024 PT5 will not complete a full revolution around Earth but will remain in orbit for over 56 days.

• It will travel in a horseshoe-shaped path, moving halfway around the planet before departing.

• 2024 PT5 is being drawn into Earth's gravity, allowing it to orbit the planet from September 29 to November 25.

• A recent asteroid, 2024 ON, passed by Earth without incident, highlighting the planet's dynamic space environment.

• After its temporary stay, 2024 PT5 will break free from Earth's gravitational pull and continue its journey through space.

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